Keeping one of thousands facing rectal cancer in Ottawa

Former CTV News anchor Max Keeping announced Tuesday he has been diagnosed with rectal cancer.

On Monday he will endure a major, lengthy and high risk surgery. It will result in the removal of his rectum, anus, prostate and bladder. Recovery could take six months.

"My lifestyle will have to change . . . I’ll have two major incisions to get over,” said Keeping. "I go into this operation saying I’ll be back in three to four months. I don’t care what the doctors say. I want to be back being part of Ottawa.”

Colorectal cancers are one of the fastest growing cancers in Canada, with the highest number of incidents found in Ottawa.

That isn’t stopping Keeping from staying positive.

"We don’t talk death anymore. We talk about surviving and yes, I intend to survive,” he said.

Keeping has been on the front-lines battling cancer before. He survived prostate cancer nine years ago.

"Any day that starts with waking up is a good day to dance. This is the only day that God has guaranteed us so use it to its utmost and that’s the attitude I’ll take into the O.R. on Monday morning, he said.”